Category: Book Review

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

One of the books I read early in the year remains a favorite. If you read one book on writing, make it this. Or read it as a memoir of one of the greatest writers of our time. An authentic voice is such an elusive thing. Stephen King does it so effortlessly. 

To imagine him facing near death halfway through his writing and still producing such a great book speaks to his skills as an author.

I learned a lot from this book and wholeheartedly recommend it.

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike

This is the first book in her trilogy, and I loved this tale about the legendary Merlin and his twin sister. Medieval Scotland comes alive with the author’s vivid descriptions. As I read the story, I could picture the majestic mountains and simpler abodes. I saw the trees that reached the sky and flowers growing underfoot. I could smell the leather and herbs. As a vegetarian, I did not imagine tasting the food, but she described them in detail. The protagonist, Languoreth, is introduced as a young girl in a magical land. 

This quote defines her life: “We may not always have the choice we would like. But we always have a choice.”

Her passion and love bring her momentary bliss, followed by worry and grief. She is headstrong and flawed and took me along on an emotional rollercoaster.

The brother-sister relationship depicted here reminded me of my trilogy Land of Magadha, where the siblings are the protagonists. Good to see more stories explore this beautiful relationship.

I look forward to reading the next book in this trilogy. Recommend for historical fiction and historical fantasy readers. 

The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan

This book is a slow read. That said, brilliant writing by Amy Tan. Each chapter is immaculate in bringing us into the characters’ lives. The way the story unfolds is masterful.

It is a tale of two sisters, Chinese immigrant Kwan and her American-born sister Olivia. I can still picture Kwan in my head, calling her little sister Libby-ah. As an immigrant, I could relate to many things this immigrant from China does. I don’t have ghost stories to narrate like Kwan, but the tales my grandmother told me as a child inspired me to write.

The relationship between the sisters is raw and real. It simultaneously broke my heart and brought a smile to my face. It is a story of identity, one we are born with, one we show to the world, and the true self that is hidden even from ourselves. We all need a sister like Kwan to be our voice of reason.

Book Review – The Love That Split the World

Reading Emily Henry’s book is like drinking hot chai on a cold rainy day. It warms your insides. Her debut novel is full of tenderness and warmth.

This book is about a teenager with an abandonment crisis. To be young and to feel so deeply is a gift. One we don’t recognize till our senses have dulled. You can feel Nat’s emotions like a tide swell.

I did not pay much attention to all the multi-verse and parallel universes. I love Sci-Fi, but that is not why I read Emily Henry. I read her books for the emotional punch. I loved all the Native American tales in this book. I can easily imagine a grandmother narrating them under the night sky, sitting in front of a mellow fire.

If you want to experience life through the eyes of a teenager where every problem is earth-shattering, and every pleasure is a god’s gift, this is your book.

I finished the Raje series by Sonali Dev. These books are a Jane Austen-inspired Indian American retelling. First off, the brilliance of Austen and her stories are something to marvel at. Centuries after she wrote, the stories still resonate with us. Sonali’s writing brought me joy, and I highly recommend it to fellow contemporary romance readers. Don’t read the books on an empty stomach. You will be raiding your pantry from the mouth-watering food in the book.